Teacher- Hospital bladder surgery(cystoscopy- dilation) on same day as parents evening?

[Se12345]

Little between two things. My bladder surgery day has been set to a date where school has rearranged as parents evening. After this operation I won’t be able to work for day at least but it falls right on the same day which means I miss parents evening. I’m the full time class teacher so no other teacher to cover for me.

What would you do- delay and rearrange by couple months or tell the school there’s nothing you can do and you will be off in an operation ? I will be out asleep for this.

Absolutely have the operation as planned. The school will find a way to manage it.

@Se12345 I had this procedure done years ago due to frequent bladder and kidney infections that just wouldnt go away. It worked really well!

But... I was so uncomfortable afterwards for 48 hours and no way I would have managed a parents evening!

Just tell the school you won't be there but happy to do it the day before (or pick another day)

They will need to reschedule your parents night. Absolutely do not reschedule your surgery, that would be insane.

This also happened to me- ended up in hospital for two nights after and then off work for the next week. My bladder was already extremely painful before the procedure though which I suspect made a difference.

If you're covered by STPCD they can't change the date once it's been published. You have your op and you do not rearrange parents' evening.

Of course you must have the operation. If your SLT isn't supportive it's not a good school to work at.

And how sad is that that you even feel you have to ask the question?!

Your school and faculty within should be fully supportive of any measures needed to support your health.

Go for the operation.

Dilation is something else- they overfill your bladder through the cystoscope.

Have the surgery. You’re andvised after an anaesthetic not to make important decisions or drive etc usually for at least 24 hours as per NHS guidance, as you may be drowsy and still not fully ‘right’. You cannot sit and speak to parents professionally if you are not well enough to do so. School will have to sort it, your health is more important- don’t rearrange your procedure!

As a Governor, I would be very concerned if I learned that a member of staff was delaying a necessary medical procedure in order to attend parents’ evening. Please put your health first, this, along with your family, should always be your priority. Please look after yourself, and take all the time you need to rest afterwards.

There was a teacher off for one of my DC's parents evenings. They just arranged to see the parents of their class on another date. Is that not something your school can accommodate?

Your health comes first every time. Every single time. It's just a job, no matter how much you care about it.

Never, ever put any job before your health. Have your procedure. The logistics of parents evening is not your concern.

Your health first...talk to the school and get the parents evening moved. My dd parent evening moved as her teacher wasn't well and I really didn't want to get her sickness bug neither did any of the other parents so we were very happy to be moved. The parents will understand. Hope you feeling better soon. And the surgery goes ok

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/teacher-payout-staff-back-operation-b1253619.html

If anyone dares to say anything to you about letting people down by having an operation on a parents evening day....!

Have the operation and 24 hours off to recover. The school will have to move your parents’ evening. I had the same procedure under a general anaesthetic and didn’t have any pain afterwards but the anaesthetic stays in your system and you can’t drive or do parents’ evenings.

This!

Of course they can move parents evening. Have the operation. This is your health - you can’t mess about with it.

Not clear what you AIBU voting is. You would be unreasonable to either postpone the op or still try to get to parents evening. The parents want you fit to teach their children much more than they want parents evening.

What would you do- delay and rearrange by couple months or tell the school there’s nothing you can do and you will be off in an operation ? I will be out asleep for this.

The school will have to manage without you. You need the surgery and then you need the time to recover, particularly if you're having a general anaesthetic.

My DH is a HT and he has rearranged a parents night (primary) for one of his staff as they have a hospital appointment ( I obviously dont know for what) but they have been waiting months for. He would NEVER expect any staff member to cancel a hospital appointment/surgery.
Not great timing but hey ho!

Surely there will be all the other teachers there? One subject wont be missed really? Or are you a primary teacher?

Are you in a toxic school? This reads like you can’t see the woods for the trees, and don’t know what’s normal! Obviously your operation takes precedence, and if it isn’t obvious to you then there’s something wrong with your school culture. A good headteacher wouldn’t even question it.

Go for the operation. Delaying could mean 3+ months delay.